School Nutrition - Free And Reduced Information

Free and Reduced Priced Meal Applications (Non-CEP Schools Only):

MCSD currently has 41 schools that operate under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) where all students eat at no charge. An online application is available to apply for free and reduced price meal benefits for the other 12 schools that are not operating under CEP.

If your student is not enrolled in a CEP school, a new application has to be completed and approved every school year before your child can qualify for free or reduced price meal benefits. For quicker processing, an online application is available at https://www.myschoolapps.com/. If you prefer, a paper application is available upon request at your child’s school or at the School Nutrition Office at 2960 Macon Road. If completing a paper application, we must receive an original since these applications are scanned. We cannot accept a faxed or copied application. ONLY ONE application needs to be completed for your entire household. If someone receives SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) OR TANF, you must include the current CASE number on the application (NOT the EBT or food stamp card number) and indicate whether the program is SNAP or TANF. We receive thousands of applications every year. Completed applications are processed within 10 days. A letter will be sent home from school with your child stating if you have been approved or denied. Applications CANNOT be approved if they are not completely filled out so please COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED FIELDS on the application. Until your application is approved, please provide your child(ren) with money to purchase meals.

If you have an approved MCSD 2019-2020 application on file, then benefits will be extended for the first 30 days of the 2020-2021 school year (or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first). After that, your child’s status will change to PAID and they will be charged for meals until a new application is approved. If your application has been denied or is incomplete, please call our office if you have any questions: 706-748-2389. Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year, especially if your income goes down, you lose your job, your family qualifies for SNAP or TANF benefits, or there is a change in your family size. For quicker processing of meal benefit applications, the Family Meal Application is available online at https://www.myschoolapps.com/. If you prefer, you may complete a paper application at your child’s school or at the School Nutrition Office located at the Muscogee County Public Education Center, 2960 Macon Road.

Important information to remember:

• School Nutrition Managers are available to answer questions on free and reduced applications, answer questions of parents, and receive pre-paid money on the student’s account.
• A new Free and Reduced application must be completed annually.
• Parents should not complete a free and reduced application at schools designated as CEP schools.
• Applications can be submitted electronically using the link on the MCSD website.
• Please return completed applications in a timely manner so that the student’s meals are captured under the proper status.